how can i get my gc conure to like me?

[Sabo]

so I kind of don't want to screw this up. I bought him yesterday, and he had a tough trip on the way home. Pretty much a 1.5 hour bus ride in a tiny box, because I've never been there and I had no idea it was going to take so long.

Although he seems unusually quiet (I've yet to hear him make any sort of noise during the trip or at home), he's very healthy - good poop, healthy appetite, and very curious. I spoon feed him formula twice each day.

Anyway, he seems rather frightened of me. He trembles whenever I touch him, and he's always looking for like a corner to hide. He doesn't bite or protest/struggle when I hold, pick up, or pet him.

Should I leave him alone in his cage? Or keep him outside to interact with me?

 

[Kyoto]

Just let him out on his own terms.

 

[Grraarrgghh]

You can't force the relationship with a parrot.

Ideally, the bird will instantly want to frolic and play with you the minute you get home. In reality however, this is extraordinarily rare because it's instead terrified of you, it's new cage, the smell of your home, the change in light color/quantity/quality, the person trying to grab or stroke it, etc.

Give him time, hang out nearby, don't make consistent eye contact, but don't be afraid to talk softly to him either. Leave the cage door open if you have him in a bird-safe room, and he may even climb out on his own (depending, if he's still being formula fed, he may not be good at climbing yet). If he's unclipped/mild clipped he may try flying out as well.

As an aside, what's with all the unweaned birds being sold lately?

 

[Sabo]

As an aside, what's with all the unweaned birds being sold lately?

Relax dude, he was 2 days shy of being 8 weeks old. He can eat on his own, and you can't really screw up spoon feeding unless you're like completely retarded.

 

[Kalidasa]

I would say your new companion already likes you, but millions of years of instinct are sending him signals to be afraid and wary, but this will pass much sooner than you think. You've received excellent advice so far, so just take it slow, be very gentle, and he'll come around in no time. Within the first year, expect a lot of behavior changes. It sounds like you're doing things good so far. Anytime a bird is moved from a location to another owner there is the initial shock to be overcome...especially a very young bird suddenly removed from its parents and siblings. Make sure he has plenty of breaks between handling to allow him to process your new relationship. In no time at all he'll be stuck to you like Velcro.

 

[Puck]

As an aside, what's with all the unweaned birds being sold lately?

Relax dude, he was 2 days shy of being 8 weeks old. He can eat on his own, and you can't really screw up spoon feeding unless you're like completely retarded.

I'm pretty sure the remark wasn't targeted against you but was just a general comment. There have just been a lot of threads lately where people have new unweaned babies, and most of the breeders that the members on here use regularly don't sell unweaned babies to people. Welcome to the forum, and congrats on your new friend! I agree with the posts above--patience is the key. Birds are more cautious than what we usually think of when we think of a "pet"--they take time to win over.

 

[Sherry1]

When I brought Quinn home he was very quiet for most of the day and sat shaking for a good 15-20 minutes before exploring his new cage and nibbling on some food. By evening he was pretty comfortable. I had been visiting him for several weeks before he was ready to come home so I'm thinking it might have helped that I wasn't a total stranger even though he was in a strange place, I was somewhere familiar already. He was already trained to 'step up' so we just focused on that for the first few days just going finger to finger and talking to him.

 

[Taw5106]

You've had him less than a week, give him some space and time, start you routine with him, like feeding, water changes, cage cleaning, play time, bed time etc. he has to aclimate. It will get better, trust us.

 

[Grraarrgghh]

As an aside, what's with all the unweaned birds being sold lately?

Relax dude, he was 2 days shy of being 8 weeks old. He can eat on his own, and you can't really screw up spoon feeding unless you're like completely retarded.

I'm pretty sure the remark wasn't targeted against you but was just a general comment. There have just been a lot of threads lately where people have new unweaned babies, and most of the breeders that the members on here use regularly don't sell unweaned babies to people.

Yeah that's precisely what I was referring to. That said, handfeeding has many pitfalls, even if you're not "retarded".

No need to be hostile to those offering the advice you asked for OP.